Finding Your Groove in Transition

There’s no need to sulk through another job search. It is possible to learn, love, and rediscover during your next job transition. Here’s how:

Relax! Really. Consider relaxation to be an important part of your job search. Things like bicycle riding, gardening, creating art, or dancing can increase the alpha wave activity in your brain, which is said to allow you to use your imagination and express your creativity through your conscious mind.  Relaxation can help you stay connected to your higher goals and keep you from getting caught up in a plethora of possibilities to pursue.

Rediscover. From a relaxed state of mind, brainstorm a list of professional activities that you enjoy such as counseling, organizing, creating, analyzing, or managing. Brainstorm a list of organizations at which you would love to work. Create your lists in the “here and now”, keeping in mind that what once felt like the ideal job may no longer resonate with you.

Explore the World (Wide Web). Conduct Internet research to learn about organizations and people who are doing work that interests you. For example, Guidestar, (see http://www.guidestar.org/) offers a searchable database of more than 1.8 million nonprofit organizations. From here, you can create a spreadsheet and use it to 1) rate the agencies most attractive to you, 2) keep track of relevant contact information, and 3) record notes from conversations you may have with people from these organizations.

Informational Interviews. Give yourself some time to meet with people you admire or who are doing the type of work you  feel juiced about. This could be a friend, an acquaintance or someone you discover through your research. Ask them what they love about their work and also what they don’t love as much. Give yourself the opportunity to feel if this is work that really resonates with you, or just sounds good on paper.

Volunteer. No doubt you’ve got a bunch of great skills so offer to put them to use at one of the organizations on your “would love to work for” list. As a volunteer, you will get a chance to learn the culture of the organization (which has immense intrinsic value) and become known by other colleagues. This is extremely helpful since many employers feel more comfortable hiring someone they know — someone whose work they have seen. If it feels more comfortable to you, set a time limit on your volunteer activity such as a 3-month window or 5-10 hours per week.

Get Known and Published. Consider writing an article or providing a workshop that will reach nonprofit groups in your community.  The National Council of Nonprofits provides a statewide directory of nonprofit umbrella groups (seehttp://www.councilofnonprofits.org/salocator). Some of these associations have specific programs through which you can offer a workshop and others may publish an article you’ve written on a topic of relevance to nonprofits. It’s not too difficult to self-publish on the web so get out there and let your light be seen shining. 

Leverage Your Current Skills to Cultivate New Skills. Perhaps you’ve worked in program administration or social services but you’d really like to learn some fundraising skills (very marketable in nonprofit setting). Since you don’t expect to get a paid fundraising position but your administrative or social work skills are transferable, offer to volunteer in a position through which you can grow some new and marketable skills. Websites like Volunteer Match (seehttp://www.volunteermatch.org/) list volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations by location and interest area.

Move Towards Not Away From. Often times when we leave a position (voluntarily or through a lay-off or termination) we look back and say, I don’t want this or that in my next job. Bring to your consciousness what didn’t work for you in your last job and use this as an opportunity for personal learning. Your future employer should hear enthusiasm, clarity and excitement from you about your next career move. They should not hear regret, dissatisfaction, or an attitude of “running away from” a previous work situation.

So, here is absolute permission to relax, learn new things, discover your real-time passions, connect with friends and make new acquaintances. Who thought a job search could be so rewarding?